It is a beautiful thing when those we can still affectionately love those who have wronged us or that we have a rift with. The story is related by St. Nikolai Velimirovich how the Indian King Gundafor wanted a palace built for himself so he sent his envoy to find a skilled craftsman. That craftsman happened to be the Holy Apostle Thomas. It didn’t appear St. Thomas was making too well on this craftsmanship enterprise so King Gundafor became enraged at the Apostle. The King’s brother reposed. An angel took the soul of the deceased brother and showed him to a room in Heaven which contained a grand palace. But the angel blocked the brother from entering the room and revealed to him that this was the palace that St. Thomas was building for Gundafor. Then, the angel returned the soul to the body and the brother, arising from the dead, explained to the King what he had witnessed. Gundafor and his brother both accepted baptism from the Holy Apostle Thomas.
When we encounter a conflict with our brother, it is most important to remember that sometimes, we cannot heal them immediately. They need space from us and we need space from them. But we can still love them. This doesn’t mean they haven’t repented. As St. John the Merciful stated,
“Indeed, many times we have seen the sin of our brother, but we have not seen his secret repentance. Only God judges the secret things of the heart, and He is able to accept the repentance and renew a right spirit in the sinner.”
Our Treasure is not an earthly Treasure but it is a Heavenly Treasure (Matthew 6:19). Our Lord frees us from cynicism toward our brother by leading us toward forgiveness and healing. He didn’t come to heal the healthy. Healthy people don’t need a doctor. He didn’t come to find the found or save the saved. He came into a world of broken people who needed healing, who needed to be found, who needed saving. If you think you don’t need saving, then you’re probably not someone He died for. But He died for all so your thinking is in error.
I’ve been thinking about a dear friend of mine a lot lately who’s relationship with was already rocky but I think finally capsized the other day. As I went to church tonight, I lit a candle for her. She used to do that for me. Maybe the rift can be a good thing sometimes. She provided for me help when I had a rift with my godmother but now that things are healed with my godmother, I may not need her anymore. But I can be useful for her now. I think this friend of mine just needs someone who is always looking toward God as the sea monster who called out for St. Brigid though St. Brendan was in the very place where the sea monster was being pursued. I don’t know exactly what my friend needs right now, but I know I need to pray for her, that she may be richly rewarded in Heaven and, of course, given beautiful wings. St. Tamara of Georgia always reminds me to pray for her. She has a similar personality. St. Tamara, pray for my friend!